EVENT WELFARE SERVICES​

Why Have Welfare Teams?

Sometimes on events, there are those who require a bit of additional care and support but aren’t in need of medical attention. 

That is where Event Welfare Services comes into play.

These staff are there to take the pressure off the Medical Teams whilst providing a dedicated team to look after those who need it. 
Whether it is

  • Emotional Support;
  • Rest & Recovery area for those coming down from drink or drugs;
  • Mental Health Support;
  • Accessibility support for those with additional needs such as Neurodiversity or physical needs;
  • Quiet Spaces;
  • Lost and Found; 
  • Lost Children;
  • Spaces to breast/bottle feed or change a nappy.

Welfare services can help to bridge the gap between the medical teams/spaces and someone being discharged to return to the event. 

What our Welfare Teams Cannot Do.

Whilst there is lots we can do, it is important to be upfront about what we cannot do as a Welfare Team. 

Our Welfare Teams are not there to act as First Aid or Medical Teams. Whilst there is an overlap and we can supply First Aid/Medical Teams (see our other page for that HERE), having a Welfare Team onsite does not negate having Medical Cover as well. 

We cannot transport those under our care to meet people off site. Whilst our teams will, where pressures allow, help people find friends or family within the event, we cannot transport off site – this is for the safety of our staff. However we would work with the patient and those they are wanting to meet to find a solution.

What Experience do your Welfare Team Have?

The Majority of our Welfare Team have worked in Welfare Roles elsewhere. 

Our Welfare Team Leader has successfully run Welfare Teams across a busy Inner-city Nightclub as is used to the hustle and bustle of a busy environment and allocation of resources.

The rest of the team are picked from those who have worked in similar roles, Health Care or Mental Health Backgrounds. 

All the staff are Enhanced DBS Checked and work under a set of policies and Scope of Practice which is set by our Management team.  

How do Welfare Teams Work?

By providing a visible presence onsite, working closely with the Medical Teams, Security & Stewarding Teams and Event Control can help to alleviate the pressures faced across the event by allowing these services to focus on their primary role whilst taking care of the person/s who need help.

Working under the Guidance from the Purple Guide’s “Welfare Handbook”  our team would be able to act as a friendly, caring and non-judgemental face for the event helping to ensure that the patrons have a good time whilst also providing care for them. 

How would we do this?

Initially we would discuss with you, the event organiser, what sort of services you would be looking for and what you may have provided elsewhere on site, the type of event it is, and how you imagine the service would run.  

We would look at the risk assessment, opening hours and welfare operating hours, the location you’d like us to be based in,  and the equipment we would be providing for example: camp beds, chairs, beanbags and bedding vs the equipment we’d ask to be provided for us such as tables, lighting, heating etc. 

After discussions we’d put into place a proposal and quotation for your consideration and agreement.

How can we recognise your Welfare staff and tell them apart from your medical staff?

Quite Easily!
Our Medical Staff will be wearing Green Uniform or High Viz Jackets saying “Ambulance”, “Medical Team” or branded with the Medical Logos. 

Our Welfare Team have “Welfare Team” on their Uniform and wear Light Blue High Viz vests.

Whilst they have the same base logo – the welfare one is a different colour to again help differentiate the two teams.  

Post Event - What happens?

Like all events we cover, there is an initial debrief with staff to hear feedback from them, what went well, what didn’t go so well, where could we do better? We ask staff this at the time and then also again on a feedback form afterwards. 

We then take this information along with the reports we have completed and numbers of patients seen to produce an End of Event Report which can be sent to yourselves showing what has been dealt with. 

Of course, we aren’t going to wait until the end of the event to report any major incidents or tends – these will be fed through our command structure back to the Event Control to ensure a seamless and smooth running of the event.